Francis M. Christy, P. O., Herndon. Mr. Christy was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, in 1831, where he was raised on a farm and lived until 1861. Worked on a farm until he was twenty-one, then entered a store as salesman. In 1861 he went to St. Louis, where he attended a commercial school. He went to Washington City, where through his uncle, he got employment as collector on a ferry. His uncle, Andrew Christy, one of the early residents of St. Louis, and largely interested in the Wiggins Ferry Company, died about this time, leaving an estate of nearly one and one-half millions of dollars, and being one of the executors, he returned, of course, to St. Louis. In 1871 he was elected a director of the ferry company, and, except one year, remained one until 1880, when he moved to this county and located on a farm. In 1863 he married Miss Margaret M. Carr, daughter of Wm. C. Carr, of St. Louis, who was also connected with the ferry company for some years. Mr. Christy is the father of nine children: Franc C., Halley W., Rose Lee, Elsie May, Vernon, Gregg Bemis, William Andrew, Douglas, Margaret, and the baby, who are all at home, at the farm in this county. He is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church, membership at Dr. Brook’s church in St. Louis. The farm is large and well improved, and in the management of it, Mr. Christy proves he has not forgotten his early training.
